What Happens to Your Body When You Get Inked?
Do you have qualms about getting your first tattoo? Understandably, the sensation of pain and fear of regret may be holding you back. However, let’s put those apprehensions on hold for a moment to discuss what happens physiologically when we choose to get inked up. Ignorance is not bliss–so keep reading below to gain insight into the science behind tattoos!
What Changes Take Place to Your Skin?
To comprehend how tattoos work, it is important to be acquainted with the anatomy of skin. Revisiting your first biology course will remind you that our dermis, or
beneath the epidermis harbors small blood vessels, hair follicles, lymph vessels and sweat glands. To make a tattoo permanent, ink must penetrate this innermost level.
Tattooing is done by needles for a reason – it’s the best way! Previously, tattoos were made manually with just one needle that worked to puncture the skin and inject ink at once. Now, tattoo artists use machines which rapidly add depth while simultaneously injecting colors into your design. This method has proved time-and-time again as an effective way of achieving beautiful body art with lasting results.
The tattoo artist uses a motorized needle to rapidly and repeatedly puncture the skin in order to implant ink into your second layer of epidermis – all while causing microscopic damage. It’s due to this process that you may experience scabbing after getting a tattoo, as it is necessary for the ink to properly adhere
Tattoo artists can take advantage of various needles for distinct effects. Each one is outfitted with an array of needle points that range from three to 25 in total. These smaller ones are usually applied for outlining, while the larger ones provide shading; and more importantly, the higher number of heads allows tattooists to pierce a wider expanse simultaneously! Working at incredible velocities ranging from 50 up to 3,000 times per minute – these needles deliver outstanding results!.
Why Will Tattoos Last Forever?
Do you recall from your biology course that when skin cells shed off the epidermis, the dermal layer replaces it by moving its cells to the top of your skin? You might be wondering why then, do tattoos remain on our bodies and not come away with these exfoliating cells.
The ink does not necessarily penetrate the skin cells; rather, it is ingested by fibroblasts – a type of dermal cell that helps with wound healing. Despite this absorption process, tattoos are still resilient and will remain visible due to an insufficient amount of absorption from these specialized cells.
Rather, its enduring nature is credited to macrophages. These are specialized cells of the immune system which respond as a component of the inflammatory process when the tattooing needle penetrates through skin. Macrophages swarm at the point of injection to manage foreign ink granules; some make their way back to the liver for waste disposal while others linger around nearby areas where it was injected. Since these cells can’t dissolve ink pigment, they remain visible beneath one’s skin surface indefinitely.
Should Everyone Consider Getting Inked?
Tattoos are not for the faint of heart! Withstanding all that needle poking can be hard enough, yet even then your body could react differently depending on its condition. The controlled wounding process leaves one susceptible to infection and other adverse effects, particularly if you have an autoimmune disorder or any medical condition that extends the healing time frame.
People who suffer from psoriasis or other skin conditions should exercise caution when considering getting a tattoo, as the process can cause trauma to the affected area. Furthermore, those prone to developing scar tissue may be advised not to get tattoos at all due to poor healing of the area. Additionally, some individuals have had reactions such as discoloration when exposed to UV radiation if they are using certain pigments—especially red ones—in their ink.
Before visiting a tattoo parlor, be sure to discuss your medical condition with your doctor. Testing the reaction of your body towards tattoos is a great place to start; begin with something small that may not cause any complications. With this delicate procedure comes an extra responsibility – make sure the needles used by your ink artist are sterilized and sanitized in order to avoid infections or other adversities!
Is Tattoo Removal Possible?
Tattoos are often seen as a permanent part of your body, but this doesn’t have to be the case. If you’re no longer content with how it looks or want to rid yourself of it for any other reason, laser tattoo removal is available and can help get rid of your unwanted ink in a safe manner.
With the comprehension of how tattoos impact skin, it’s easy to comprehend laser tattoo removal. Lasers emit short pulses (as low-level as one trillionth of a second) that hit ink particles and split them apart so they can be carried away by the body. Different inks require various lasers, with black being the simplest shade to treat.
While how many treatments you need to remove your tattoo will depend on variables such as the size, age, and color of the tattoo as well as skin tone, it is usually possible to erase a tattoo in two to ten sessions. Smaller tattoos that are more shallowly implanted can be eliminated after just two or four visits; however, larger pieces may take up to ten before they disappear completely.
Although there are minimal risks associated with tattoo removal, such as possible discoloration or paleness around the treated area, new technologies make it exceptionally safe. Scarring is not something you have to worry about when undergoing this procedure any longer; after a few sessions, your skin will go back to its prior state sans ink.